UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Posted: Wednesday, May 23, 2001

The following information about construction on city streets and state highways and work on utility projects is provided to Friends & Neighbors readers based on information from city and state officials.

Officials said all projects are subject to change because of weather, emergency work or other unexpected events.

Texas Department of Transportation

Texas Department of Transportation crews and / or contractors will be working in the following locations through Tuesday:

Lane Closures

On Interstate 27: between 45th Avenue and Western Street, expect lane closures;

On Interstate 40: the T-Anchor Boulevard exit will be closed;

On I-27: expect lane closures at the I-40/U.S. 287 split;

On I-40: the roadway is narrowed to two lanes in each direction at Bell and at Grand streets;

On I-40: the eastbound exit ramp to downtown is closed. Detour is to Ross/Osage, turn around, take westbound I-40 to the downtown exit ramp;

On I-40: the eastbound entrance ramp from Washington Street is closed;

On Interstate 27: the southbound exit ramp to I-40 eastbound will be closed. Detour is to I-40 westbound, exit at Crockett Street, use turnaround to I-40 eastbound;

On I-40: the westbound exit ramp to I-27 southbound will be closed. Detour is the downtown exit ramp to 11th Avenue and turn around.

Information about TxDOT also is available through the department's Web sitewww.dot.state.tx.us

A $33 million project to widen I-40 through the I-27 interchange is continuing.

The project includes adding two additional travel lanes on I-40, replacing the bridges over Harrison/Tyler streets and over the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railyard, and upgrading the interchange to current design standards.

Background

The I-40/I-27 interchange was first completed in 1966. The Harrison/Tyler streets bridges and the railroad overpasses are the original structures and will be replaced.

I-40 will have two lanes of travel in each direction throughout the duration of the project.

During construction, I-27 will be reduced to one lane in each direction at the interchange and some connecting exit ramps will be closed.

When the project is completed, I-40 will have three lanes of travel in each direction through the interchange.

Street improvements

From the city of Amarillo Engineering Department, information about street improvement projects, where work will be ongoing through May 30, if weather permits:

Railroad crossing removals that will include various locations throughout the city;

Street Reconstruction Project that includes Paramount Boulevard from Southwest 34th Avenue to Olsen Boulevard; Wolflin Avenue: from 300 feet west of Bell Street to Plains Boulevard; and Western Plaza Drive: from Western Street to the Interstate 40 frontage road;

North Jackson Street: from Amarillo Boulevard West to alley south of Northwest 15th Avenue;

Northwest 13th Avenue: from East Street to North Harrison Street;

North Monroe Street: from Amarillo Boulevard West to Northwest Ninth Avenue;

East Street: from Northwest 10th Avenue to Northwest 12th Avenue;

Bell Street alleys: alleys east of Bell Street between Bell Park and Southwest 48th Avenue; and

Northeast 11th Avenue: from Eastern Street to the alley west of Aster Street.

Summer Overlay Project

Olsen Boulevard/Paramount Boulevard: from Western Street to Interstate 40 and Southwest 26th Avenue from Georgia Street to Paramount Boulevard;

Southwest 34th Avenue: from Western Street to Georgia Street;

Bell Street: from Southwest 45th Avenue to Interstate 27;

South Arthur Street: from Southeast Third Avenue to Southeast 34th Avenue; and